GCC seeks aid for Rohingyas

DOHA: The GCC foreign ministers, at a meeting in Riyadh yesterday, condemned what they said was a policy of racism and discrimination against Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar and said atrocities being perpetrated on them were a flagrant violation of human rights.

The ministers called on the international community, the UN Security Council and civil organisations the world over to look for a quick and effective solution to the plight of the Rohingyas within the framework of UN and OIC resolutions and the UN Human Rights Charter.

“We demand that urgent humanitarian aid be provided to the suffering Rohingya people,” the ministers said in a communiqué at the end of the meeting, reports QNA.

The ministerial council also deplored what it called was a vilification campaign against Qatar and its right to host FIFA World Cup 2022.

In its communiqué, the council reiterated that it full support for and solidarity with Qatar since Doha won the bid in a fair competition to host the event.

The ministers praised Bahrain for cracking down on terrorists who were threatening its security and said they belonged to a terror outfit called ‘Saraya Al Ushtar’ were taken to Iraq where they were given military training, training in the use of weapons and making explosives.

Foreign Minister and President of the current session of GCC ministerial council H E Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah chaired the council’s 135th session in Riyadh, also attended by GCC Secretary-General Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani.

Dr Al Attiyah told the opening session that the meeting is being held amid continuing challenges, risks and threats engulfing the Middle East, particularly terrorism and violence whose political, security and economic repercussions can’t be ignored.

The agenda of the meeting included issues and projects related to GCC work and topics pertaining to strategic dialogue between GCC states and other blocs.